Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698940998468.pdf (Uganda)
+wt* THE REPUBUC OF UGANDA OFFICE OFTHE PRIME MINISTER PLOT 9-I1 APOLLO KAGGWA ROAD.

P.O.
P.O.

BOX 341, KAMPALA, I]GANDA TELEPHONES: General Line 0417 770500, Web: \1\rlr.ol)m.g().us, E-mail: l)\ ( opnr.go.ug In any correspondence on this subject, please quote No KA/90/02118 February 13,2018 LOSS OF LIVES AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY OF SOME COMMUNITIES IN AGAGO DISTRICT BY KARAMAJONG HERDSMEN Background At the 29ft Sitting of the 2'd Meeting of the 2nd Session of the 1Oth Parliament of Uganda, held on Tuesday 6th February,2018, Hon.
Judith Franca Akello Woman MP, Agago District raised concern over the loss of lives and destruction of property of some communities in Agago District by Karamojong Wariors.
The Ministers for Karamoja Affairs together with the Minister of State for Internal Affairs undertook to provide a response to Parliament on the said matter, and now we wish to respond as follows; 1) Loss of Lives in Agago District On the 30ft of January, two young Jie boys who were looking after animals were apprehended by three male hunters speaking Acholi and from the Agago side, near Longo Dam.

The hunters also had hunting nets, three dogs, spears, and knives.
This is an area used by communities from Kotido, Kaabong, Agago, and Kitgum Districts for fishing, grazing animals and hunting.

The hunters(Acholi) apprehending the two boys a one Apei2l years son of Lopanga and the 17 year old Irar son of Lokritak who was killed did not explain to them why they were being held.

The hunters instead stabbed Irar on the chest next to his heart.

The other boy ( Apei ) managed to disentangle himself though he was cut by a knife on his head and stabbed on his ribs.
He managed to run to his parents a nd narrated what had happened to him and his colleague.

He is now hospitalized in a Health Centre in Kacheri Sub-county Kotido District.

This case was reported to the RDC Kotido by the LC III Chairman Kacheri, unfortunately he did not respond immediately nor did he inform the police which could have probably changed the whole scenario.

There was tension on the border between the two Districts, in Kacheri Sub-county in Kotido, and Paimol Sub-county in Agago.
On the 5ft of February the relatives of the slain boy went to recover the body of the boy who had been killed on the 30ft January.

2018.

They found four (4) men, all Acholi from Agago whom they apprehended immediately demanding from them an explanation of who killed their son.

These were Ochaya, Ochan Walter, Otto Bosco, and Oyo David.

The captives expressed ignorance about the matter.

The captors then tied up their captives and started beating them up.
Two of them (Ochaya and Ochan) were killed using pangas and axes, as they started on the third (Oyo David), the fourth (Otto Bosco) tried to escape.

They chased him up, threw spears at him and he has never been found.

Oyo David on the other hand took advantage of the situation and escaped with serious injuries.

He was able to hide from people who were tracking him, and managed to get home, where he narrated what had happened to his friends.
He was then taken to Kalongo Hospital in Agago, where he is recovering steadily.

It is further reported that on the 7ft of February, a group of people from Agago attacked six (6) hunters in Kacheri in retaliation, five were able to escape, but one was killed.

It is significant to note that all these activities and killings have taken place in Kotido District.

They are not in any way connected to the regular movements of the Karamajong Herdsmen in search of water and pasture.
They are acts of lawlessness and criminality which are being investigated by security agencies.

The scene of crime is a very massive area, with hardly any roads, and this has made the investigation process longer than it could have been done given the sensitivity of the matter.

2 Fortunately, the clan leaders and kraal leaders have taken the lead in this matter, working with security agencies to identi$, the perpetuators of these crimes.
We held separate meetings on the 9th February, 2078 with the leaders of the two districts and then a joingt meeting at Abim on llth Febraury, 2018 which was attended by Members of Parliament from both districts, district leaders, elders, kraal leaders, LC III chairpersons of border sub-counties, the UPDF Division Commanders, Uganda Police Force, and Internal Security Organization and all these efforts are aimed at apprehending the perpetuators of the crime and they will be brought to book.
2) Destruction of Property by Karamajong Warriors Like the practice has been, it is true that Karamajong Herdsmen (AND NOT WARRIORS) have moved to neighbouring districts of Agago, Pader, Kitgum, Otuke, Alebtong, Amuria and Katakwi.

They are not warriors anymore because Government has disarmed them, and their conduct has significantly changed.

The prolonged drought in Western Kenya, has piled pressure on the resources available in Karamoja, forcing the herdsmen to move west into Acholi and Langot.
The movements are mainly by people from Kotido District, where government is yet to construct a big water reservoir, like it has done in the districts of Moroto, Napak and Kaabong.

Prior to these movements, we have always encouraged district leaders to engage the host districts and agree on some basic principles.
We have advised that the security agencies should be involved before movements and thatacensus is conducted before the movements, as well as at the time when they are returning to Karamoja when the rains commence.

We have encouraged the veterinary departments in the moving and host districts to collaborate and ensure that there is control of diseases.
We also demand that Kraal leaders should deal directly with chairpersons LC III in the host sub-counties, to be able to sort out issues like food destruction and stealing, local fights, and livestock thefts.

The reality on the ground is that the herdsmen move even before their district leaders know.

The new tendency is also that Kraal leaders stay back home and only leave the kraals to young men, aged between 12 and 16 to manage, and control the kraals using mobile phones.
These cannot restrain others from entering people's gardens and at times taking away some food.

The herdsmen also move without any food stocks, and so depend on what they pick from other people's gardens.

These elements of crime are detectable and should be prevented by security agencies.

Even where they still have water and pasture, the herdsmen are tempted to move on, probably in search of food.
3 As government plans to provide more water for production in Karamoja, we have realized the importance of providing similar facilities to the host districts.

Equally as we plan food for the Karamajong, we should also provide food to the host communities, who actually loose a lot in the process of hosting the herdsmen.

As I make this Statement, my State Minister Hon.

Kizige is visiting the host districts to familiarize himself with the challenges they have while hosting the herdsmen.
While we request you for your continued support, we want to assure the nation of our commitment to settling these herdsmen and providing security to all Ugandans and their property.

Byabagambi MINISTER FOR KARAMOJA AFFAIRS 4